Thalia was sitting next to her while looking at the bonfire in the distance. She could hear the joyful conversations and laughter of her classmates and peers who seemed to have found friends in their activity.
Ruth let out a sigh as she ate their dinner. She couldn't understand why Ericka had been looking at her strangely back then. She was startled by what happened to their companion back then, who seemed to have lost all color because she was so pale, as if she had a terrible dream, staring into the void.
Are we under the influence of an evil spirit here? Ruth found herself questioning in her mind, in her thoughts; it seemed she could no longer taste what she was eating now.
She scanned her surroundings, and their eyes met, Ericka's and hers.
"Are you okay?" She asked Ericka…
Ericka was a bit surprised by her. Am I being too familiar? She just scratched her head.
"Thank you very much for your concern." She nodded at her in response.
"That's good." She just smiled at her companion.
Ruth couldn't look her in the eye back then. Ericka quietly ate next to Jasmin. Ericka decided not to intervene.
She looked at her wristwatch; they still had a few activities before the night ended and everyone could rest.
She can only laugh at what she sees, as the once quiet forest comes to life with people's laughter. Hopefully, it stays like this throughout their camping trip.
"Thalia," she called to her companion.
Thalia just looked at her, waiting for what she would say next.
"Accompany me to the restroom. I need to pee."
Her friend looked at her meaningfully; it seemed she had a sense of apprehension. Maybe she's afraid it will happen again like this morning.
"Wait, we need one more person with us."
Ruth was surprised. "Huh? Why?" She asked, puzzled, to her companion.
Thalia just shook her head at her. "You weren't even listening earlier." She let out a sigh.
She looked at her friend with annoyance.
"We need to go together in groups of three whenever we leave or go to the restroom." Thalia explained it to her.
"I need to pee—who else wants to join us?" She complained, feeling as though her bladder would explode in a few minutes.
"Are you also planning to use the restroom?" Jasmin inquired.
"Yes," she quickly replied then.
"Me too, I really need to pee." Jasmin said.
"Wait, we need the teacher's permission before leaving; they need to know where we are going." Thalia, who was stopped by Jasmin, said,.
"Hurry already!"
She even saw Thalia ask for permission from the teacher, who gave her something like a ribbon that they would wear one by one.
After some time, she came back and donned the provided ribbon. She wouldn't bother with the ribbon anymore; what mattered was that they could finally pee.
Their teacher had built three restrooms close by so that there wouldn't be a line when many people needed to use them. It also has lights inside and running water.
She was lying down comfortably then. Ruth noticed that the surroundings were gradually becoming quieter. So she quickly went outside to see what was happening, or maybe it was already their curfew.
She looked at her watch. "Thalia!" she called to Thalia, because it was almost time for their curfew, almost nine o'clock in the evening.
"Thalia!" She called out to Thalia again.
Thalia didn't answer again; she noticed that the restroom Jasmin used had its lights turned off. She just frowned.
She probably won't come back alone. Ruth thought to herself.
"Hey!" Someone suddenly grabbed her hand.
Suddenly, something startled her and spun her around.
"Thalia! I'm going to have an attack because of you." She complained that her chest felt tight. She's afraid she might suddenly see someone else again.
"Let's go." Thalia grabbed her hand.
She was puzzled by Thalia's behavior back then.
"Wait, are we leaving Jasmin here?" She asked her friend.
Thalia didn't respond, so she dragged her away. She felt a chill again, just like she did this morning.
Is this Thalia? She wondered in her mind.
Fear is guiding Ruth; she is afraid to speak or even make a sound, afraid to fight whoever is currently holding her hand.
She wonders who is always pretending to be Thalia. She notices the surroundings; this is no longer the path to their camp; it's leading inside the dark and dense forest.
Ruth heard it humming as if it were happy, and even though it was dark, she felt its smile on her lips.
She was sweating profusely, wanting to let go of her hand, but fear was taking over. She wanted to cry more about what was happening to her.
Don't worry, we won't hurt you. A voice spoke in her mind. She looked at it.
Don't be afraid, little sister.
Ruth only noticed a street; she gasped. This scenario is what he sees in the news, where two siblings were killed, shot multiple times, and ultimately lost their lives.
She sees a woman in white, her clothes stained with blood. She turned to her.
She couldn't speak. It slowly approached her.
Chesca. It seemed as if its voice mingled with the wind.
Ruth looked at the one holding her hand. It was the same bloodied woman she had seen that morning.
She just swallowed, her heart pounding, unable to speak or scream, and her throat suddenly dry.
Don't be afraid; it's us. A soul waiting for her even touched her cheek back then.
Chesca, do you recall who we are? What did that demon do to you? Its voice was angry, and its appearance changed.
"I—I don't know you." She found her voice then. "I—I'm not Chesca." She just shook her head and clenched her fists.
This is me, Ellese, your older sister, and Felisa.
It seems like she's going crazy; she's getting dizzy from everything happening in her life. Suddenly, her head started to hurt so much that she couldn't bear it.
Ruth couldn't understand what was happening.
"My name is Ruth Dalia Dionson! I'm not Chesca!" She fell to her knees from the pain she felt in her head, which seemed like it was about to explode.
You will remember us too, Chesca. You will remember us. You are our hope.
Am I going crazy? Will I go crazy? What's happening to me? She kept asking questions, and the surroundings gradually fell silent.
"---Uth." There are voices calling her.
"Ruth! Ruth!" She felt someone shaking her shoulder; she was dizzy; she didn't know what was happening around her.
"Ruth Dalia!" That was the shout she heard from Thalia back then.
That's why her eyes opened wide and were met with light, causing her to squint back then.
She got up and still felt dizzy. She only rubbed her eyes.
Ruth noticed that he was in a tent with many school nurses. At that moment, she was once again taken aback, scanned her surroundings, and noticed Thalia's worried face, complete with a frown.
She gasped, and only now did she remember that she had left Jasmin.
"Where is Jasmin?" She found herself asking.
The people around her were surprised, as if she had asked an inappropriate question.
What's happening? What's happening? Ruth wondered in her mind.
"Dionson, stay here for now; take a rest." Said a teacher.
"Go back to the tent and go to sleep." That was what they heard from their teacher. Therefore, the students immediately complied and gradually left the classroom.
"Ma'am, I'll stay here for now." She heard Thalia say.
Their teacher just nodded at that. The teacher stepped out of the tent.
A long silence hung between her and Thalia; she seemed afraid to ask what was happening to her again. Ruth will just let Thalia speak.
"Jasmin is missing." That's all she heard.
Ruth looked at Thalia, whose expression was serious. She didn't know how to respond to this. Her hand suddenly trembled. She was scared.